There are so many things to squeeze into those first days of school. We're learning names, practicing routines, figuring out where everything goes, and slowly becoming a classroom community.
But one thing I always make time for is reading aloud.
I truly think some of the best conversations we have had during those first few weeks begin with a book. A good story gives us a chance to laugh together, think together, and talk about things that might otherwise be hard to bring up.
Books help us talk about friendship, kindness, feelings, differences, mistakes, perseverance, classroom expectations, and what it means to be part of a community. They also give me a chance to learn so much about my new group of kids just by listening to what they notice and what they have to say.
And honestly, there are just so many good books for the beginning of the year!
Here are 19 of my favorites for the first 10 days of school. Only one I forgot to include is The Dot.
Some make us laugh. Some lead to great conversations. Some help with classroom routines. And some are simply wonderful stories that I love introducing to a new group of first graders.
For me, a read-aloud is a must every day
And 30+ years in, I'm still finding new books to add to the pile.
